Ohio -- Estimates predict that 30 percent of the United States workforce could be replaced by automation by the year 2030 and because of that people are learning the necessary skills to avoid being left behind.

"College wasn't for me. I wasn't able to get my financial aid through, so I wanted to look for an alternative and cheaper route in the long term," Oscar Brashear said.

Brashear is like many other young adults. The 19 year old is carving his own career path and shaping his version of the American dream.

His version starts in Plain City as a student of the Robotics & Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative at the Tolles Career and Technology Center.

“You've got your house out in the middle of nowhere. You've got your own food and animals and stuff like that and here and there, you'd go out on vacations and you have a job that you like," he said.

He's a part of the six person adult education class. They meet every Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The program costs $8,500 and takes 370 hours to complete.

“I wanted to be able to help someone change their life and start a new career in a reasonable time frame with reasonable financial commitment," Troy Shampel said.

Shampel is the RAMTEC Business Liaison. He also teaches the course.

The center accepts students who want to enter the industrial maintenance field and those who are already working with companies that want their employees to learn additional skills. Sampel said they've worked with and placed students at Honda, JIC, Worthington Industries, Stanley Electric, Nissan and Kentech America.

"“Robots can't fix themselves. We have robots that have screens and will tell you exactly what's wrong with them, but they don't have the ability to repair themselves, so you'll always need someone to be there to fix them," Brashear said.

Brashear's father, Nathan Jenkins, is also taking the course.

“It's touched my heart that we are in class together and that we are sharing every Friday together," Jenkins said.

After 12 years working as a corrections officer and maintenance worker, he decided to make a change and pursue the same path as his son. The two are each other's motivation and they hope to push each other to a high-paying job and fulfilling career.